Each year Newsweek magazine ranks the top public high schools in the nation when it comes preparing students for college and life.

North Central High School opened in September 1908 with only half a wing and 12 classrooms ready for the 200 newly enrolled students.

Events in the school's history include the outbreak of scarlet fever that led to every student being checked twice a week by throat specialist, visits by William Jennings Bryan who spoke of the importance of public speaking and Booker T. Washington who spoke of being a slave boy and the founding of a college in Tuskegee, Alabama.

In 1991, NC and its rival school, Shadle Park, began a spirit competition named Groovy Shoes.

[2] While the two basketball teams battle it out on the court, the more important competition takes place in the stands annually at the Spokane Arena.

There is a week long build up where students decorate the school hallways according to the year's theme in a competition between the classes.

Every three years, North Central holds the tradition of putting on a massive, student written musical called "The Doll Shop".

[7] Unlike any other high school facility in the city, the new North Central High School Institute of Science and Technology rivals many college lab facilities, and was driven by the District's growing emphasis on studies in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

The design is purposefully reminiscent of university facilities and takes advantage of territorial views and substantial day-lighting in the labs.

Building on the original IST program for high school students, North Central opened an expansion of the institute to seventh and eight graders.

Of North Central's 1,610 students (2006-07 school year), 63% are white, 26% are black, 3% are Hispanic, 4% are Asian, 4% American Indian, and 2% are unknown/not provided.

[13] Education in Spokane, Washington 2009 Nike Cross Nationals 7th place 2009/2010 2nd at mat classic (state wrestling tournament)